Sound device



J. D. STAGGS June 16, 1931.

SOUND DEVI CE Filed Dec. 25, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. ans-mess.

A TTORNE Y.

SOUND DEVICE Filed Dec. 23, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

J D. STHGGS.

. ATTO Y.

June 16, 1931. J STAGGS 1,809,916

SOUND DEVICE Filed Dec. 23, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. t!- D. 5 7196 G5 1 ATT EY.

June 16, 1931. J. D. STAGGS 6 SOUND DEVICE Fild Dec. 23, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 68 7a 79 76 7e 1 r 73 73 75 g INVENTOR. JD. 3 THGGS A TTORNE Y.

Patented June 16, 1931 PATENT OFFICE JESSE D. STAGGS, OFLOS 'ANGELES, CALIFORNIA SOUND DEVICE Application filed December 23, 1929. Serial No. 415,903.

from a phonograph record.

An additional object of my invention is to provide a novelmeans for making a sound record.

Other objects of my invention willbe ap parent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: 1

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved sound reproducer.

Fig. 2 is a section taken 'Fig. 1. i y

1 Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. 1 looking on line of i 2.5 from the needle towards the cone.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged'fragmentary section of the cone showing the meansfor securing it to the supporting member.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged top plan view of the needle holding mechanism. Fig. 6 is a front view of the part shown in Fig. 5. i

Fig. 7 is a side View ofthe needle holding A mechanism with parts thereof broken away to 35 more clearly illustrate the device.

Fig. 8 is a top plan'view of the balsa stick used in the device.

Fig. 9 is a side view of the balsa stick.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged section taken on line 19-10 of Fig. 1. H

Fig. .11 is a section taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 10. I I p I Fig. 12 is a section taken on line 1212 of Fig.10." N 45 Fig. 13 is a section similar to Fig. 1-1 showing a modified form of my device.

Fig. 14 is an end view of the device shown in Fig. 13, and

Fig. 15 is a section taken on line 15 15; 0.

Fig. 13.

is conicallg Referring to the drawings by reference characters I have indicated my improved reproducer generally at 10. This reproducer as shown is adapted to be used with records on which the sound vibrations run from side to side in the grooves but it will be understood that with slight changes in the device it may be used with records on which the sound vibrations run up and down.

As shown the device comprises a needle support indicated generally at 12 and a sound cone indicated generally at 14. The needle support 12 comprises a body portion having a recess 16 in one side thereof, the top of which is inclined as indicated at 17 and in the face of which is provided a conical recess 17 and the back of: which is inclined as indicated at 18. On the bottom of the body 15 I providea downwardly extending finger 19 on the rear face of which a conical recess 20 is provided.

The needle holder proper is indicated generally at 22 andincludes a body portion 23 in which a needle 24 is positioned in the usual manner and retained in position by a set screw 25. The upper end of the body 23 shaped as indicated at 26 and the apex t ereof is adapted to be positioned inthe conical recess 17 of the member'15 as clearly shownin Fig. 7.

Adjacent the lower end of the body 23 and extending rearwardly therefrom I provide an arm 27 in which is provided arecess 28 having on its rear wall a conically shaped protuberance indicated at 29, and extending downwardly from the arm 27 I provide a finger30 while extending at right angles to the arm 27 I provide a lateral member 31 which is tapered to a point as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

Theapex of the conical portion 29 of the arm 27 is positioned in the conical recess 20 of thefinger 1 9 and adjacent the lower end of the finger 30 of the arm 27 I secure a rubber pad 32 which is engaged by a set screw 33 supported on a downwardly extending bracket 34 on the body 15.

Secured in an aperture 35 in the rear face of the bracket 34 I provide a rearwardly exflti'. ding hollow tube 36 in which a rod 37 is positioned (shown in detail in Figs. 8 and 9) and which is preferably made of balsa wood. As shown the rod 3? is preferably tapered from the center towards each end thereof and at one end of the rod I provide a flexible member 38 which is preferably made of spring steel. and adjacent the outer end of member 38 there is provided an aperture 39. At the opposite end of the rod 3'? I provide a needle 40 and adjacent the same end I provide a transversely extending pin 41. member 38 of the rod 37 is extenoed through the tube 36 at the end thereof secured to the member 12 and the point of the member 31 of the needle holder 22 is positioned in the aperture 39 of the flexible member and is secured thereto as by soldering.

The end of the tube 36 opposite the member 12 is provided with opposed arms which are pivotally mounted for movement about a vertical axis on pins 43 supported by lugs 44 on a block 45 which in turn is pivotally mounted for movement about a horizontal axis on pins 46 supported by arms 47 of a frame 48.

The block 45 is provided with a central aperture 49 and four screw threaded apertures 50 in each of which a screw 51 positioned and retained in an adjusted position by a nut 52. Mounted on the screws 51 I provide wires 53 which conver e towards the center of the block and are secured to an anvil 54 which includes a rearwardly projecting stem and a pair of opposed lips 56, The wires 53 pass over blocks a7 which act as bridges and are movable on the block 45, being retained in position by he tension of the wires The pointed end of the needle 40 of the balsa rod 37 is positioned on the anvil 54 and the anvil and the needle are retained in engagement by resilient members 58 which are in the form of a loop and are positioned on the pin 41 of the rod and the ips 58 of the anvil The stem of the anvil 54 is secured to the apex of the cone 14 by sealing waX, glue, or in any other desired manner.

As shown the frame includes a plurality of outwardly extendii lugs 60 pro need with apertures il in wl .ch screws 62 are positioned for securing the frame to a support 63.

Secured adjacent the large end of the one 14 there is provided a strip of resilient materialv 6-4 such as Chamois skin which extends beyond the edge oi the cone and is clamped between the edge the frame 48 and the support 63 for supporting the cone i i.

In operation the needle 24 is placed in position on a record and as the record rotates and the needle comes in contact with the sound producing undulations it swings from side to side on the pivotal points of the needle holder at 17, 20 and 32, thereby vibrating the arm 81 back and forth and vibrating the balsa rod 37 endwise, which vibrations are The flexible.

t 'ansmitted through the needle 40 to the anvil 54 and thence through the stem 55 to the cone 14.

In tuning the device the wires are tightened to such a degree as will cause the entire cone to vibrate on the deep notes and the bridges 57 may be moved to the positions wl'ierein the best results are obtained.

As the grooves in the record move the needle 24 to and fro, and vibrates the cone 14, the wall of the groove pi'ishing against the side of the needle must overcome the iner tia of the cone and parts when moving in one direction, and when stopping it to move it to the opposite direction the greatest strain comes on the wall of the groove. At ordinary speeds of vibration of a few hundred a second the inertia of the cone and moving parts is great enough to break down the sides f the grooves and ruin the reproduction and the record.

In my device the wires 53 hold the needle in the center of the groove until they are pushed to one side, then the wires help to arrest the inertia and tend to pull the cone 14 back to its original position. Therefore, for agiven pitch the tension on the wires can be adjusted so as to balance the inertia of the cone and moving parts.

In a cone speaker only portions of the cone vibrate for diflerent tones. On a low tone the whole cone will vibrate and on a higher tone only a part of it nearest the apex of the cone will vibrate, the rest of the cone remaining stationary and assisting the wires 53 to return the vibrating portion to a neutral position.

As the cone is the largest mass this assists materially for the wires can be tightened to balance the whole cone on the lower notes. If a tone of higher pitch is reproduced the weight to be vibrated is reduced for only a section of the cone will vibrate and the tension on it is increased by the stationary part of the cone plus the tension of the wires. Therefore the cone may be approximately balanced for the audible notes. This very materially reduces the wear on the record and the power required to vibrate the cone and further produces a full range of tones which are sweet and without accompanying mechanical sound.

In Figs. 13, 14 and 15 l have indicated a modified form of my device generally at 65. This device is particularly adapted for use with radios but may be used in connection with any device wherein it is desired to transform electrical impulses into sound waves. As shown the device 65 includes a cone speaker 66 similar to the cone speaker 14, a frame 67 similar to the frame 47, and a block 68 similar to the block 45, except that the frame 67 includes a cross member 69 and the block 68 is rigidly secured to the frame by screws '70 instead ofbeing pivotally securedthereto asis the block45.

' The block 68 is provided with a central aperture 71 and four screw threaded apertures 7 2 in each ofwhi'ch a screw 73 is adapted to be positioned and retained in an adjusted position by a nut 74. Mounted on the screws 73 I providewires 75 which converge towards the center of the block where they are secured to an anvil 76 which is made of gray iron and is adapted to act as the core of a solenoid 77 The wires 7 5 pass over blocks 7 8 which act as bridges and are movable on the block 68, being retained in position by the tension of the wires 75. The anvil 7 6 is provided with a stem 79 which is secured to the apex of the cone 66 by sealing wax, glue, or in any other desired manner.

In operation the solenoid 77 is electrically connected to the device which produces the electrical. pulsations and as the device operates the varying current to the solenoid 77 causes the anvil 7 6 to move against the ten sion of the wires 75 and through the medium of the stem vibrates the cone 66 thereby producing audible sounds. The device is tuned-and adjusted in the same manner as previously described in connection with the device 10.

Although I have described my invention as applied to a phonograph or radio it will also be understood that it can be embodied in connection with talking pictures without de parting from the features of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. Ina sound reproducer, an amplifier, a support, an anvil, tension members on said support and supporting said anvil, means to vibrate said anvil, and means to connect said anvil to said amplifier.

2. In a sound reproducer a needle support, an amplifier, a needle holder on said needle support, means to mount said'needle holder to pivot about two spaced, fixed, pivot points on said support and means engaging said needle holder to transmit longitudinal vibration to said amplifier.

3. In a sound reproducer, a block, a frame, said block being supported by said frame, a cone speaker, a support, said frame being mounted upon said support, an anvil, means to impart movement to said anvil, tension means to secure said anvil to said block and means on said anvil to secure it to said cone.

4:. In a sound reproducer, an amplifier, means to support said amplifier, a stem on said amplifier for actuating the same, means to move said stem to actuate the amplifier, a plurality of tension members, means to connect said tension members to said stem to support the same and means to support said.

' 6. In'a sound reproducer, a block, a frame,

said block being supported by said frame, a cone speaker, a support, means to secure said frame to said support, an anvil, means to impart movement to said anvil, a plurality of supports on said block, a wire secured to each of saidsupports, said wires converging towards the center ofsaid block and being secured to said anvil, and a stem on said anvil, saidstem being secured to said cone.

=7. In avsound reproducer,'a needle support,

"a cone speaker, a needle holderassociated with saidsupport, said needle holder comprising a "body portion having means to secure'a needle I to one en d, theopposite end of said body being conically shaped and the apex of said conical portion :being positioned in a recess in said needle support,'a rearwardly extending arm on said bodyya conical portion onsaid arm, a downwardlyextending boss on said support,

said boss having a recess, said conical portion being positioned in said recess, a downwardly extending finger on said arm, a resilient pad adjacent the lower end of'said finger, a set screw supported by said needle support, one end of said set screw engaging said pad, a a lateral member on said arm, said lateral member extending transverselyfrom said needle holder and means connecting said lateral member and said cone. 7

8. Ina sound reproducer, a needle support, a-hollow tube,' one end of said tube being secured to said support, a cone speaker, a rod positioned in said hollow tube, a flexible membere'xtending from one end of said rod, said needle holder secured to said flexible member, a needle extendin-gfrom' the opposite end of said rod, an anvil, said needle engagingsaid anvil, means to retain said needle in engagement with said anvil, and a stem on said anvil, said stem being secured to said cone.

'9. In a sound reproducer, a block, a frame, said block beingsupported by said frame, a cone speaker, a strip of resilient material adjacent the large end of said cone,said material extending beyond the edge of said cone, a support, means to secure said frame to said support, said resilient material being clamped between said frame a'nd said support, an anvil, meansto impart movement to said anvil, a plurality ofadjustable supports on said block, a wire secured to each of said supports, said wires converging towards the center of said block and being-secured to said anvil, movable bridges interposed between said adjustable supports and said anvil, said wires passing over said bridges, a stem on said anvil and said stem being secured to said cone.

10. In a sound reproducer, a needle si.p

passing over said bridges and a stem on said anvil, said stem being secured to said cone.

In testnnony whereof, I hereunto aflix my port, a cone speaker, a needle holder asso- Signature.

ciated with said needle support, said needle holder comprising a body portion having means to secur a needle to one end, the opposite end ext said body being pointed and the apex of said point being positioned in a re cess in said arm and said conical portion being: positioned in a recess in a downwardly extending boss on said support, a downwardly attending finger on said arm, a resilient pad adjacent tie lower end of said finger, a set screw supported by said needle support, one end of said set screw engaging said pad, a member on said arm, said member extending, transversely from said needle holder and means connecting, said member and said cone.

11. In a sound reproducer, a needle support, a hollow tube, one end of said tube being secured to said support, a frame, means to mount the other end of said tube for universal movement on said frame, a cone speaker, a support, means to secure said frame to said last support, a needle holder associated with said needle support, and mounted relative thereto, said needle holder comprising a body portion including means to secure a needle thereto, a rod positioned in said hollow tube, said needle holder being secured to said rod, a needle extending from the opposite end of said rod, an anvil, said needle engaging: said anvil, and a stem on said anvil secured to said cone.

12. In a sound reproducer, a needle support, a hollow tube, one end of said tube being secured to said support, a pair of opposed arms adjacent the opposite end of said tube, a block, an aperture in said block, said tube arms being pivotally secured to said block for movement about a vertical axis, a frame, said block being: pivotally secured to saic frame for movement about a horizontal axis, a cone speaker, a strip of resilient material adjacent the large end of said cone, said material extending beyond the edge of said cone, a support, means to secure said frame to said support, a needle holder associated with said needle support, and mounted relative thereto, said needle holder comprising a body portion including; means to secure a needle thereto, a rod positioned in said hollow tube, a flexible member extending); from one end of said rod, a portion of said needle holder being secured to said flexible member, a needle extending from the opposite end of said rec, an anvil, said needle engaging; said anvil and resilient means to retain said needle in engagement with said anvil, a plurality of adjustable supports on said block, a wire secured to each of said supports, said wires converging towards the center of said bloclr and being secured to said anvil, bridges interposed between said adjustable supports and said anvil, said wires JESSE D. STAGGS. 

